Mining & Fracking
Jack Jelenick
MINING
There are two major types of mining; surface and subsurface.
Surface Mining
Surface Mining is sort of "scratching the surface" and gathering the minerals. This method is very messy and harmful to the ecosystems around but is less expensive, easier, and safer than subsurface mining.
Strip
Excavate the rock and minerals to find a layered mineral reserve. Coal is the usual rock extracted from these strips.
Open-Pit
Removing the rocks and minerals from and open valley type area, it looks like a gigantic pool.
Mountain Top Removal
Mining the ridge of a mountain, using dynamite to open up coal seems within the mountain.
Subsurface Mining
Subsurface Mining is the digging into earth to retrieve the minerals and rocks. This method is very difficult, expensive and dangerous but the surrounding ecosystems are barely harmed (compared to the damage of surface mining.)
Slope
Deep mines that have sloped ramps instead of shafts for conveyor belts and trucks, etc.
Drift
Instead of slopes and shafts it’s an almost near horizontal tunnel into the mine.
Shaft
Vertical tunnel traveled about by elevators and such, all people and minerals are transferred that way.
FRACKING
What is Fracking?
How is Fracking done?
What are the Environmental Impacts of Fracking?
-Respiratory, sensory, and neurological damage can be side effects of the contaminated groundwater because neighboring cities and wells use that water.
-Only 30 to 50 percent of the fluids used are returned, the rest leaks into the ground where it can not be dissolved into the soil because it's biodegradable.